It’s been quite a year so far for Tessa Thompson, between breaking out with a star turn in Justin Simien‘s acclaimed indie satire Dear White People and landing a supporting role in Ava DuVernay‘s awards contender Selma. I’m excited to start seeing more of Thompson, as she is a very good actor, and according to a recent Deadline article I won’t have to wait too long to get my wish.
Deadline reports Thompson is now set for a role in MGM‘s Rocky spinoff Creed, where she will be featured opposite Fruitvale Station star Michael B. Jordan and Rocky himself, Sylvester Stallone. Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station) is directing the film from a script he wrote with Aaron Covington.
In all, this sounds like a project ripe with talent, despite the fact it is treading somewhat familiar ground. Coogler pitched the project to MGM with the help of Stallone, and based on Coogler’s award-winning Fruitvale Station, I have faith he can bring something unique to this project as well. Further, Jordan is among the best actors working today, if you ask me, and the addition of Thompson makes me very intrigued.
I have yet to see Selma, but I have seen Dear White People, and despite the fact the film as a whole didn’t quite land for me — its tone is a bit off at times, and it is seriously overstuffed — Thompson’s performance was among the best aspects of the movie. She has this quality about her I can’t quite put my finger on, but she really drew me into her character even when I wasn’t completely digging the movie.
Last we knew, Creed was supposed to begin shooting in January in hopes for a 2015 release, but I’m sure we will have more on that later as details become available. For now, here’s a clip of Thompson in Dear White People to give you an idea of her skills.
[yt id=”VrNV-3wW_mo” width=”500″]
